Visa Process for Selected Countries

Visa Application Process for US Citizens

The information below is intended to supplement the student visa requirements and application information provided by the countries below. The advice reflects our “best and most up-to-date understanding” of the student visa process, but this process often changes and sometimes varies by consulate, e.g. the Boston Italian consulate versus the New York Italian consulate. Be sure to confirm these instructions on the consulate’s official web pages for visas and/or with your program provider. You find these instructions by going to the web pages of your study abroad country’s embassy in Washington. Consult theDirectory of embassies. Once on the embassy website, click on its entry for: Consular Services, Visas, or Consulates. (Be sure to check that if as a Bates student you are eligible to apply for a visa through the relevant Boston consulate)

Australia

On-line application:

Have your passport, your Confirmation of Enrollment number, and a credit card. Your university will issue your Certificate of Enrollment (COE) number once you have paid your tuition. Some universities will issue the COE with a partial tuition payment.

Go to the Australian Immigration Department web pageNote: your Australian university participates in the streamlined visa program (SVP) that treats all student visa applicants as though they were a low immigration risk (similar to the current Assessment Level 1), regardless of their country of origin. This reduces the amount of documentation required and the length of time it takes to issue the student visa.

Click on “Start an Application”

Click on “First Student Visa”

Fill out the application and submit it electronically along with the (approximately) $460 fee [as of 5/08/18]

You will receive the visa approval e-mail within several days

Print the visa e-mail and carry it with you throughout your travels. This is your visa.

Denmark

All students require a Residence Permit. DIS facilitates the receipt of the Residence Permit. Students who are considered ‘visa free’ will enter Denmark as tourists and will apply for a Danish residence permit after arrival in Copenhagen. A visa-free student is any student who is a U.S. citizen or is a citizen of a country exempt from the requirement of having an entrance visa to enter Denmark. A list of visa-free nationalities can be found here. (scroll down to the list of ‘Citizens exempt from the visa requirement’).

Once in Denmark, all visa-free students will apply for a residence permit – upon arrival you will receive the necessary application/paperwork and there will be an orientation session that will offer assistance in completing the application. Immigration Service will arrange for special hours for this processing and residence permits will be processed on the spot.

Students who are NOT considered visa free (i.e. you need a visa to enter Denmark) will need to apply for a residence permit prior to departure to Copenhagen. Non-visa free students will need to make the trip to the Danish Consulate in New York to apply in person. The Danish Consulate in New York is the only Consulate in the US with biometric capabilities; students are also allowed to apply in person at any other Danish Consulate around the world that has biometric capabilities. Once a student has turned in their application at the Danish Consulate it will take up to 2 months to process.The DIS North American office will be in direct communication with you about this process.

Ireland

On arrival in Ireland you need to present the following to the Immigration Officer at the Airport:

Passport

Irish university Letter of Acceptance

Proof of Health Insurance

Proof of Financial Support

Confirmation of deposit

At the airport, Immigration will stamp your passport, usually for one month – during this time you will be required to register with the Immigration Office. Your Irish university study abroad office will explain this process.

To register at the Immigration Office, you will need the following documentation:

Passport

Irish University ID Card

GNIB Form (available from the International Office at Irish University)

Health Insurance (students are advised to bring copy of their private health insurance policy which states they are covered while in Ireland and hospital cover is also included

Immigration Card Fee – 300 EURO (can be paid by credit or debit card)

Proof of Financial Support: Either a Sponsorship letter from Bates stating that ALL expenses are covered OR a Bank Statement from an Irish Bank Account – the university should be able assist students to open an Irish Bank Account at Orientation. Students are required to have the following amount of money lodged in the account:

Students attending Early Start/Fall Semester should have 2,500 EURO lodged in their account

Students attending Spring Semester only should have 2,000 EURO

Students attending for the Full Academic Year must have at least 3,000 EURO in their account

Students must print an ATM receipt on the day they go to register with Immigration showing they have the above amounts in their account on that date.

Italy

All Bates students can apply through the Italian Consulate in Boston. In person application, appointment necessary. Required documentation may vary from Consulate to Consulate, so please contact your specific Consulate to verify what is required.

You can schedule an appointment to submit your application to the Boston Consulate on the Consulate web site. You must submit your application in person. Applications should be submitted as early as possible, but no more than 90 days before the date of arrival in Italy.

Student visa fee is $61.50 (as of 5/16/18). The fee changes every three months, so consult the consulate web site for the current fee. The consulate only accepts money orders.

You need a passport valid for at least three months beyond your final day in Italy (make sure a blank page remains in your passport for the visa stamp), a photocopy of the passport personal details page, and the original plus one copy of the following:

the National Visa application form (available on the Consulate web site) to be signed by applicant in the presence of a Consular Officer.

Flight Itinerary with exact dates of travel and borders of entry and exit. Electronic tickets are accepted.

A letter of current enrollment from Bates College addressed to this Consulate confirming the applicant’s enrollment status. Request this letter from Mrs. Palmer.

A letter of acceptance addressed to this Consulate from the U.S. Academic Institution providing for the Study Abroad Program, indicating first and last name of the student, name of study abroad program, name and address of the Italian Academic Institution hosting the program, the dates of the program, if the program will provide health insurance with policy number and coverage abroad statement, and that the program fees have been paid in full. This letter has to be submitted directly by the student.

letter of acceptance addressed to this Consulate from the host Academic Institution in Italy, or the Italian branch of the U.S. Academic Institution providing for the Study Abroad Program, indicating the name of the student, if the University will provide for health insurance, lodging of the student and length of the program. This letter, submitted directly by the student, must be written in the Italian language.

Proof of health insurance coverage: an original letter, on insurance Company letterhead with the full policy number and insurance official’s signature, guaranteeing unlimited worldwide coverage, and that the Italian provider will be paid directly by the insurance company.

Proof of funds: Bank statements are not accepted. For students financially dependent on their parents:

a) Affidavit of Support from the parent/s addressed to the Consulate, stating that the parent/s will assume full financial responsibility for any and all expenses incurred by the student during his/her stay in Italy. The signature/s must be notarized.

b) original letter from the parent’s Bank on the Bank letterhead with a bank official’s signature, indicating the account number and the exact balance. A minimum of $1,000.00 per each month of stay in Italy is required. This letter has to have a recent date.

If the minimum $1,000.00 per each month of stay is not met, and the applicant is a recipient of financial aid, a letter from the Financial Aid Office or Advisor, stating the semester costs, the amount of aid and date of disbursement must be submitted along with the proof of funds.

New Zealand

Students receiving financial aid from Bates, in lieu of pre-paying tuition fees, may submit an official letter from the Bates Financial Aid Office detailing the financial aid settlement. You need to request this letter from the Bates Financial Aid office. Students whose Bates aid does not entirely cover tuition fees may partially pre-pay the fees and provide the Bates Financial Aid letter to cover the balance.

It is best to purchase the NZ Health Insurance policy.

Spain

All Bates students can apply through the Spanish Consulate in Boston. In person application, appointment necessary.

You must schedule an appointment on line to submit your documents. Do this as soon as possible. You must submit your documents in person. The visa processing fee is $160 payable upon application by money order (made out to “Consulate of Spain”). Applications for this type of visa will neither be accepted more than four months in advance nor less than one month before the departure date. The passport must be left at the consulate for processing. It generally takes about one month or longer to process this type of visa. During this time no telephone consultations will be accepted regarding visa status.

You need to bring the the following documents (the original and a photocopy):

Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond your stay in Spain. Make sure your passport is signed.

One of the following types of identification: US Driver’s License; US State ID card; Voter Registration card; current Student ID card.

2 color passport photos with white background.

Letter of acceptance as a full time student from Spain’s University/School or US program indicating: name, address and registration number of the school with Spain’s Department of Education (Ministerio de Educación de España), full payment of tuition, duration of the program, subjects of the study and hours of study per week which must be no less than 20.

Original letter addressed to this Consulate General verifying enrollment as a full-time student in an official University or School in Spain, and verification of full payment of tuition. This letter must mention that you will be eligible for a credit towards your Bachelor’s Degree.

Health Insurance: an original letter from insurance provider detailing International insurance coverage for health/accident with a minimum coverage equal to €30,000 during the planning period of stay in Spain (or its equivalency in dollars) including repatriation coverage.

Non-refundable visa fee: “Money-Order” payable to the Consulate of Spain, $160.00 for US citizens, $65.00 for other nationalities, citizens of Canada have to send an e-mail to cog.boston@mae.es for visa fee information.

If the duration of stay in Spain is longer than six months: a doctor’s statement on a doctor or medical center letterhead, indicating that the student has been examined and found in good physical and mental health to travel to study abroad and is free of contagious diseases. This Certificate must be signed in the hand of the doctor (M.D. or D.O.) on letter-head in the following format:“This medical certificate attests that Mr./ Mrs. ……………………… does not suffer from any illness that would pose a threat to public health according to the International Health Regulations of 2005.” This certificate must be issued in the place of residence, and is valid for 3 months counting from the date it has been issued.

If the duration of the stay in Spain is longer than 6 months: an FBI Background Check notarized and legalized by the “Apostille of The Hague”. (The Apostille is an international legalization which will validate the Certificate; a Notary Public is able to provide this in Maine.) FBI Background Checks may take up to 12 weeks. A local Police Background Check will NOT be accepted.—Original translated into Spanish and one copy will be needed (contact a legal translator). —This certificate cannot be older than three months from the issue date.

You must also submit one of the following documents (and 1 photocopy) to guarantee living expenses while in Spain:

Letter from the study abroad program assuming full financial responsibility for tuition, room and board for the student during his stay in Spain. For many students this information is included on the previously mentioned letter of acceptance.

Personal bank account statements showing a minimum balance of $1000 per month of stay in Spain.

Proof of having received financial aid or scholarship covering expenses for tuition, room, board, and personal expenses during the stay in Spain (minimum of $1000 per month).

Notarized letter from parents assuming full financial responsibility for the student for at least $1,000 per month of stay in Spain: Suggested wording: “I hereby certify that I’m the (father/mother/other) of (…), will support him/her with a monthly allowance of at least $1,000 while he/she is in Spain and that I’m financially responsible for any emergency that may arise“.

If the applicant is under 18 years of age: a notarized authorization letter to travel and study abroad from the parents or custodians.

United Kingdom

The British Council provides a clear summary of the two types of entry: the Short-Term Study Visa and the Tier 4 Visa.

I. To study in the UK as a student for six months or less, you can enter the UK on a Short Term Study visa. You receive the visa from the UK Immigration official upon arrival in the UK. You must have specific documentation:

your acceptance letter

financial evidence such as bank statements which demonstrate how you will pay for your studies/living costs. (£1265 per month for London; £1015 per month outside of London)

evidence that you intend to return to your home country – such as a return air ticket or a letter from your home University or employer stating that you are required to return.

The Immigration Officer will stamp your passport and write the letters “S.V” (or similar) next to the entry stamp. If you choose to come to the UK without applying for a visa in advance you must not travel via the Republic of Ireland. If you do so, you will not meet with UK immigration officials, as there is no border control between the two countries.

Note that students entering as a ‘Student Visitor’ must carry ALL the appropriate documentation with them if they depart the UK for a weekend trip to another country. They will be required to show this documentation to UK immigration upon re-entry, and must therefore treat each re-entry to the UK as if they are entering for the first time. The stamp in their passport is not enough on its own to confirm re-entry to the UK.

II. To study in the United Kingdom for more than six months, or to undertake any work at all (paid, unpaid, volunteer, internships), you need an Adult Student (Tier 4) Visa. The visa fee is approximately $435 (as of 5/08/18). You must also enroll in the National Health Service; the fee is approximately $205. A detailed description of the visa application process is available.

Have your passport and a credit card on-hand

Access the on-line application(the application instructions specify what documentation you need to provide)

The nearest location to Bates for the required biometric registration is: